City of Sarasota crews to begin yard waste collection

City of Sarasota staff has offered these images to help the public discern right and wrong ways to handle yard waste for collection. Image courtesy City of Sarasota

City of Sarasota Public Works crews will begin residential yard waste collection effective Saturday, Sept. 2, the city has announced.

Collection days and the types of materials collected will remain the same, a news release points out.

“We want residents to know they will see different work crews in different trucks collecting yard waste in neighborhoods,” said Todd Kucharski, general manager of the city’s Public Works Department, in the release. “We also want to remind everyone that yard waste is defined as landscape plant material that includes tree branches, palm fronds, leaves, plant clippings, grass clippings etcetera,” he added in the release. “It does not include tree stumps, brick/concrete pavers, dirt or soil, lawn furniture, pots, household waste or recycle materials.”

City staff has provided the following tips to ensure residential yard waste is collected:

Place yard waste at the curb (not in the street) before 7 a.m. on your collection day.

Keep the material a minimum distance of 5 feet from mailboxes, streetlights, street signs, water meters and fire hydrants.

Do not comingle yard waste with other disposed-of items, such as recycling or household materials. Keep them separated.

Place materials in a container or bundle them into 4-foot or smaller lengths.

Bundles need to weigh no more than 50 pounds.

The release stresses that if a person cannot carry the load to the curb from his or her backyard, mostly likely it is heavier than 50 pounds.

For large piles weighing more than 50 pounds, residents are asked to call 365-7651 to arrange a special pick-up, which carries a minimum fee of $26.24, the release notes. “This policy has been in place for years,” the release points out.

No additional fee is charged for yard waste that is properly prepared, the release emphasizes.

No residential recycling, yard waste and garbage pickup will be provided on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 4, the release points out. Regular Monday collection will be one day later — on Tuesday, Sept. 5. Regular Tuesday collection will occur on Wednesday, Sept. 6.